The Footscray Community Arts Centre (FCA) has received $20,000 to help integrate mental health support into its groundbreaking First Nations cultural development program, Tarnuk-ut Baany.
The funding has been awarded to FCA by Metro Trains as part of their annual Moving Melbourne Community Grants program which supports not-for-profit organisations working to improve people’s mental health.
The money will enable FCA to embed a dedicated wellbeing stream into the Tarnuk-ut Baany program, which mentors the next generation of Indigenous leaders through cultural and skills development.
The new wellbeing component will include trauma-informed training for staff, dedicated workshops, and access to Elders and wellbeing practitioners.
The funding will support two iterations of the Tarnuk-ut Baany program in late 2025 and early 2026.
“At Footscray Community Arts, we know that creativity is essential to wellbeing,” said FCA chief executive Daniel Santangeli in accepting the funding grant.
“That’s why we’re proud to have the support of Metro Trains for our Indigenous artist mentorship program, Tarnuk-ut Baany, which places wellbeing at the heart of its approach in strengthening Indigenous cultural practice and intergenerational learning.”
“Metro grant recipients perform a vital role in the community, and we are proud to support them,” added Metro Trains chief executive Raymond O’Flaherty.
Overall, eight recipient organisations shared the grant pool of $100,000, with an additional $100,000 worth of advertising at selected Metro train stations shared between a further four organisations.
The program has provided more than $500,000 to community organisations over the past six years.
